Package of a stack of flexible articles

ABSTRACT

A package with a stack of flexible articles includes a stack of flexible articles, a flexible outer cover, having a first end side panel and a second end side panel opposing the first end side panel. The package further includes two and preferably only two stiffening elements that are stiffer than the flexible outer cover and the flexible articles, whereby one of the stiffening elements is positioned against the interior surface of the end side panels of the outer cover and the other stiffening element is positioned against the opposing end side panel of the outer cover.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure concerns a package for a stack of flexiblearticles. The package has an outer cover enclosing the stack ofarticles.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Flexible articles can be packed in plastic bags. A stack of a pluralityof flexible articles may be cuboidal. However due to the flexibility ofthe plastic bag and compressive forces during the packaging the packagesmay become more round than cuboidal. Due to the tendency of the packagesto assume a round shape the design on the sides of the packages canpartly be seen when viewing the front side of the packages, thus designson the side of the package, e.g. informative text can be discerned whenviewing the front and this may ruin the impression that the front designis intended to give. One current solution to this problem is to stretchthe front design over the corner of the package and into the sides ofthe package. Thereby the space for the design and information on thesides of the package is reduced. The flexible articles can be sheetedsoft paper products, such as napkins, serviettes, hand towels and toiletpapers. Other types of flexible articles are absorbent personal carearticles, such as diapers, incontinence care articles, sanitary napkinsand panty liners.

US200570121348 A1 describes a package for a stack of flexible articlesthat has a trough-formed three sided insert made of cardboard. The stackand the insert are covered by flexible outer cover. The insert coversthe length of the stack and thereby the sides of all articles in thestack. The insert is large and increases the weight of the packagewithout solving the problem with packages where the first and the lastarticle in the stack bulge out of the package. EP 356319 A1 describes apackage of three superposed stacks of flexible articles. The stacks offlexible articles are covered by a three sided insert made of cardboard.Also in this case the insert covers the length of the stacks and therebythe sides of all articles in the stack. The insert is large andincreases the weight of the package without solving the problem withpackages where the first and the last article in the stack bulge out ofthe package.

Thus there is a need to solve the problem of bulging packages in thearea of packaged stacked flexible articles.

SUMMARY

The needs can be met with a package comprising a flexible outer cover, astack of flexible articles and stiffening elements and a method formaking such a package. Hereinafter the “stack of flexible articles” maybe referred to as also the “stack of article” or only “the stack” andthe “flexible outer cover” may also be called only “outer cover”. The“flexible article” is sometimes referred to as only “article”. Theflexible outer cover has a first lateral panel and a second lateralpanel opposing the first lateral panel. The first and the second lateralpanels are connected via a continuous wall that is divided into fourside panels, a first end side panel and a second end side panel opposingthe first end side panel and a front side panels and a back side panelsopposing the front side panel. Each side panel has a first and a secondside edge, each side edge is connected to a side edge of two opposingadjacent side panels. The outer cover encloses the stack of flexiblearticles. The stack of flexible articles comprises two or more flexiblearticles and has, a first lateral side and a second lateral sideopposing the first lateral side, a front side and a back opposing thefront side, and a first end side being made up by a first article of thestack and a second end side being made up by a last article of thestack. The second end side opposes the first end side. Each lateral sideis connected to the front side and the back and the end sides are of theconnected to each other via the lateral sides the front side and theback. The package further comprises two stiffening element that arestiffer than the flexible outer cover and the flexible articles. One ofthe stiffening elements is positioned against the interior surface of afirst end side panel of the outer cover and the other stiffening elementis positioned against the second end side panel of the outer cover.Preferably only two stiffening elements are to be used.

The stiffening elements may be rectangular and may have a width that is95-100% of the width of the end side panels of the outer covers. Theheight of the stiffening elements may be 95-100% of the height of theend side panels of the outer covers. The stiffening element may haverounded corners and/or edges. Preferably the stiffening elements onlycover the end side panels of the flexible outer cover or parts thereof,i.e. the stiffening elements should preferably not extend over any otherpanels of the flexible outer cover.

In an alternative embodiment the height of the stiffening elements maybe 70-95% of the height of the end side panels of the outer covers. Theymay extend along the end side panel of the outer cover from the first orsecond lateral panel to a first distance X from the other of the secondor first lateral panels. Alternatively the side panels may extend alongthe end side panel from a first distance X from the first or secondlateral panel to a second distance Y from the other of the second orfirst lateral panels.

The stiffening element may be made of made of, wood, corrugated board,plastic sheet, and cardboard. The stiffening elements may be solid butmay also be made like a frame with material at the edges of the element,but no or only a smaller amount of material in the middle.

The two stiffening elements may be joined to each one of the end sidepanels of the outer cover.

The end side panels of a package with flexible articles and stiffeningelements should bulge from the side edges of the end side panel with adistance D that is at most 6 mm, preferably at the most 3 mm and mostpreferably 1 mm.

The outer cover may be made plastic film, nonwoven or paper.

The stack of flexible articles may be positioned so that the firstarticle in the stack will be adjacent one of the stiffening elements andthe last article in the stack will be adjacent the opposing stiffeningelement. The stack may moreover be compressed in the direction of thestack length, from one the first article of the stack towards the lastarticle of the stack.

The stack of flexible article is substantially flat along the firstlateral side, the second lateral side, the front side and the back.

The flexible article may be an absorbent article such as incontinenceprotection, diaper and/or a feminine pad.

A method for obtaining a package with a stack of flexible articlescomprises the steps of providing a flexible outer cover, a stack offlexible articles and preferably two stiffening elements. The flexibleouter cover has a first lateral panel and a second lateral panelopposing the first lateral panel. The first and the second lateralpanels are connected via a continuous wall that is divided into fourside panels, a first end side panel and a second end side panel opposingthe first end side panel, and a front side panel and a back side panelopposing the front side panel. Each side panel has a first and a secondside edge, each side edge is connected to a side edge of two opposingadjacent side panels. The stack of articles comprises two or morearticles and has a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposingthe first lateral side, a front side and a back opposing the front side,and a first end side being made up by a first article of the stack and asecond end side being made up by a last article of the stack. The secondend side opposes the first end side. Each lateral side is connected tothe front side and the back and the end sides are of the connected toeach other via the lateral sides the front side and the back. The stackis inserted into the outer cover. The stiffening elements are alsoinserted into the outer cover prior to, during or after the stack isinserted. The stiffening elements are positioned against the interiorsurface of each of the end side panels of the outer cover. Preferablyonly two stiffening elements are to be used.

The stiffening elements may be positioned adjacent each of the firstarticle and the last article of the stack. This may be done prior to theinsertion of the stack of articles. In an alternative method thestiffening elements may be inserted into the outer cover prior to theinsertion of the stack of articles. In this case the stiffening elementsmay be joined to each one of the end side panels of the outer cover.

The stack of articles may be compressed in the direction of the stacklength before and/or during the insertion into to the outer cover.Thereby the stiffening elements may be positioned adjacent the first andlast articles of the stack prior to compressing the articles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is perspective view of a prior art packages.

FIG. 1 b is a front view of prior art packages.

FIG. 2 a is a perspective view of a package embodiment

FIG. 2 b is front view of a package embodiment.

FIG. 2 c is a perspective view of a package embodiment with part of theouter cover cut away.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another package embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stack of flexible articles.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the stack offlexible articles and stiffening elements.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the packagewith part of the outer cover cut away.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the packagewith part of the outer cover cut away.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the stack offlexible articles and stiffening elements.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the stack offlexible articles and stiffening elements.

FIG. 10 a-c way of measuring extensions of the sides.

FIG. 11 a-b shows in a schematic way the packaging method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the disclosure will be described more closely below.The disclosure may however be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth in thedrawings and the description thereto.

Package

FIG. 1 a and 1 b shows a prior art package 1 with a stack of flexiblearticles (not seen) in an outer cover 2. The end side panels 3 of thearticle bulges outwardly so that parts of the text printed on them canbe discerned when the package is viewed from the front side 4 as shownin FIG. 1 b.

FIG. 2 a-2 c shows a package according to the disclosure. In FIG. 2 cthe top of the flexible outer cover has been cut away to show a part ofthe stack of flexible articles. The package has an outer cover 2 and astack 5 of flexible articles 6 (in the following flexible articles orjust articles) inside the package. The outer cover has a first lateralpanel 8 (cut away in FIG. 2 c) and an opposing second lateral panel 9,being connected by a continuous wall that is divided into four panels, afront panel 4 and an opposing back panel 7 (not seen) and two opposingend side panels 3. The front panel 4 and the back panel 7 are furtherconnected via the two opposing end side panels 3. All of the panels aresubstantially rectangular. The stack has a first lateral side 20 and asecond lateral side 21 (not seen in FIG. 2 c) opposing the first lateralside, a front side 22 and a back 23 opposing the front side, and a firstend side being a first article 6′ of the stack and a second end sidebeing a last article 6′ of the stack. The second end side opposes thefirst end side. Each flexible article 6, 6′ has a side 24 and the firstand the last articles have an outer flat side 13. The stack of articlesare positioned inside the outer cover so that the first and the lastarticles 6′ of the stack are adjacent the end side panels 3 of the outercover. As can be seen in the FIGS. 2 b and 2 c the front panel 4 and thefirst lateral panel 8 of the outer cover 2 covers sides 24 of all thearticles 6, 6′ in the stack 5. Even though it cannot be seen in thefigures also the back panel 7 and the second lateral panel 9 of theouter cover covers sides of all the articles in the same manner.Stiffening elements 10 have been positioned between the end side panelsof the outer cover and the first and the last article of the stack.Different embodiments of the stack configuration will be describedbelow.

In FIGS. 2 a-c the stack of articles is arranged in the outer cover sothat one side 24 of all articles are positioned in the bottom of thepackage (in this case the second lateral panel 9). The article in thepackage can of course also be arranged so that only the first (or thelast) article 6′ and the corresponding stiffening element 10 arepositioned in the bottom of the package (in this case the first end sidepanel 3) as can be seen in FIG. 3. In this embodiment all of thearticles are stacked upon each other and the last article and itscorresponding stiffening element 10 are on the top (in this case thesecond end side panel.)

A stack 5 of articles can be seen in FIG. 4. A number of flexiblearticles 6 are stacked adjacent each other. The stack has a firstlateral side 20 and a second lateral side 21 opposing the first lateralside, a front side 22 and a back 23 opposing the front side, and a firstend side being a first article 6′ of the stack and a second end sidebeing a last article 6′ of the stack. The second end side opposes thefirst end side. Each flexible article 6, 6′ has sides 24 and the firstand the last articles have an outer flat side 13. The first and the lastarticles in the stack 6′ have an outer flat side 13. In FIG. 4 thearticles are folded 3 times, with 4 basically equally long articlefolding panels so that both ends of the articles are situated on thesame side. The articles can also be folded 1, 2 or more times. All ofthe folding panels may have the same length or may be of differentlength. The articles may also be unfolded.

One embodiments of the stack 5 of flexible articles with stiffeningelements 10 can be seen in FIG. 5. A stack of flexible articles like theone described in relation to FIG. 4 can be seen The stack has a firstand a last article 6′. One stiffening element 10 covers substantiallythe whole flat side 13 of each of the first and the last flexiblearticles 6′. In total two stiffening elements have been used. The widthW_(s) and height H_(s) of the stiffening elements are generally the sameas the width W_(a) and the height H_(a) of the first and the lastarticles in the stack and thus of the width W_(o) and the height H_(o)of the end side panel of the outer cover. In the stack in FIG. 5 all ofthe articles in the stack have substantially the same width and height.This stack is to be packed into an outer cover so that the stiffeningelements 10 will be is positioned against the end side panels 3 of theouter cover.

Another embodiment of the package 1 with a stack 5 of flexible articlewith stiffening elements 10 can be seen in FIG. 6. The package containsa stack like the one described in relation to FIG. 4. A part of theouter cover has been cut away at one of the end side panels so thatparts of the outer flat side 13 of the first article of the stack 6′ canbe seen. One stiffening element 10, that cover parts of the flat side ofthe flexible articles, have been positioned adjacent the outer flat side13 of each of the first and the last articles. Here only a part of thestiffening element that is adjacent the first article can be seen. Thewidth W_(s) of the stiffening elements are generally the same as thewidth W_(a) of the article and thus of the width W_(o) of the end sidepanel of the outer cover. The stiffening element does not have the sameheight H_(s) as the first and last articles in the stack. The heightH_(s) of the stiffening elements in FIG. 6 is about 70% of the heightH_(a) of the first and last article of the stack and thus also 70% ofthe height H_(o) of the end side panels of the outer cover. Thestiffening element extends along an end side panel from the secondlateral panel 9 to a first distance X from the first lateral panel 8. InFIG. 6 this distance X is about 30% of the height H_(o) of the outercover. Of course the stiffening elements could have extended from thefirst lateral panel 8 to a first distance X from the second lateralpanel 9 instead. In FIG. 6 the height H_(s) of the stiffening elementsis about 70% of the height H_(o) of the end side panels of the outercover as described above. However, according to this embodiment theheight H_(s) of the stiffening elements could have varied between 70%and 90% of the height H_(o).

An alternative embodiment of package 1 with a stack 5 of flexiblearticle with stiffening elements 10 can be seen in FIG. 7. The packagecontains a stack like the one described in relation to FIG. 4. A part ofthe outer cover has been cut away at one of the end side panels so thatparts of the outer flat side 13 of the first article of the stack 6′ canbe seen. One stiffening element 10 (only one can be seen) that coverparts of the flat side of the flexible articles have been positionedadjacent the outer flat side 13 of each of the first and the lastarticles. Here only a part of the stiffening element 10 that is adjacentthe first article 6′ can be seen. The width W_(s) of the stiffeningelements are generally the same as the width W_(a) of the article andthus of the width W_(o) of the end side panel of the outer cover. Thestiffening element does not have the same height as the first and lastarticles in the stack. The height H_(s) of the stiffening elements inFIG. 7 are about 70% of the height H_(a) of the first and last articleof the stack and thus also 70% of the eight H_(o) of the end side panelsof the outer cover. The stiffening element extends along an end sidepanel from a distance Y from the second lateral panel 9 to a firstdistance X from the first lateral panel 8. In FIG. 7 the height H_(s) isabout 75% of the height H_(o) of the outer cover and the stiffening ispositioned centrally on the height of the end side panel so that thedistances X and Y are equal, about 12,5% of the height H_(o) of theouter cover. In FIG. 7 the height H_(s) of the stiffening elements is asstated above about 75% of the height H_(o) of the end side panels of theouter cover as described above. However, according to this embodimentthe height H_(s) of the stiffening elements could have varied between70% and 90% of the height H_(o). According to this embodiment it is alsopossible to displace the stiffening element 10 towards either lateralpanel so that distances X and Y are not equal. Furthermore, the twostiffening elements on each side of the stack can be equally displacedor differently displaced so that the distances X and Y adjacent thefirst article of the stack are not the equal to the distances X and Yadjacent to the last article of the stack.

Another embodiment of the stack 5 of flexible articles with stiffeningelements 10 can be seen in FIG. 8. A stack like the one described inrelation to FIG. 4 can be seen with two stiffening element 10 eachcovering substantially the whole flat side of the first and the lastflexible articles 6′. The stiffening elements have been positionedadjacent an outer flat side 13 of each of the first and the lastarticles 6′. The stiffening element has rounded corners 25. In total twostiffening elements have been used. The width W_(s) and height H_(s) ofthe stiffening elements are generally the same as the width W_(a) andthe height H_(a) of the first and the last articles in the stack andthus of the width W_(o) and the height H_(o) of the end side panel ofthe outer cover. In the stack in FIG. 8 all of the articles in the stackhave substantially the same width and height. This stack is to be packedinto an outer cover so that the stiffening elements will be positionedagainst the end side panels of the outer cover. A stiffening elementwith rounded corners can also be used together with the embodimentsdescribed in FIGS. 6 and 7, where the height of the stiffening elementsare less than the height of the end side panel of the outer cover. Inanother alternative also all edges 18, 19, 26, 27 of the stiffeningelements may be rounded either in combination with the stiffeningelements having rounded corners or sharp corners.

Yet another embodiment is shown in FIG. 9. A stack 5 like the onedescribed in relation to FIG. 4 can be seen with one stiffening element10 adjacent the outer flat side 13 of each of the first and the lastflexible articles 6′. The stiffening element has a frame shapecomprising 4 sides, i.e. the centre 28 of the stiffening element doesnot have any or only a smaller amount of material than the borders 29.The frame sides have the width W₁ and W₂ and the height H₁ and H₂. Thewidth of the frame sides W₁ and W₂ can be equal or different and thesame applies to the heights of the frame sides H₁ and H₂. The sum of W₁and W₂ should be 5-95% of W_(s) and the sum of H₁ and H₂ should be 5-95%of H_(s) for the frame to work in a sufficient way. The frames mayfurther be supported by a cross beam that extends from one frame side toan opposing frame side or from one frame corner to an opposing framecorner. Of course two or more cross beams can be used in this case theymay cross each other in the middle of the frame.

In all the described embodiments the width W_(s) of the stiffeningelements shall be generally equal to the width W_(a) of the flexiblearticles, and thus of the width W_(o) of the end side panel of the outercover. This means that the width W_(s) of the stiffening elements is95-100% of the width W_(a) first or last article of the stack, and thusof the width W_(o) of the end side panel of the outer cover. In thoseembodiments where the height H_(s) of the stiffening elements isgenerally the equal to the height H_(a) of the flexible article thismeans that the height H_(s) of the stiffening elements is 95-100% of theheight H_(a) first or last article of the stack and thus of the heightH_(o) of the end side panel of the outer cover.

In the embodiments above the stiffening element has opposing sides thatare parallel to each other, i.e. the elements are substantiallyrectangular. It would be possible foresee to have stiffening elementswith two opposing sides that tapers slightly towards each other in onedirection.

In all the described embodiments the stiffening element may be made ofwood, corrugated board, plastic sheet, or cardboard. The stiffness ofthe stiffening material shall be enough to keep the edges between theend side panels and the front side panel and/or the back panel sharp toavoid the roundedness of the current edges. The stiffening element maybe made of a solid piece of material or may be built up by a morecomplex material e.g. a laminate of different layer of materials. It mayalso be constructed with a frame made of one kind of material. Thecentre of the frame may either be empty or be filled with a secondmaterial. It would also be possible to strengthen the frame with crossbeams of materials that crosses the frame form one edge to an opposingedge or from corner to an opposing corner. It is further possible toprint information and or pictures onto the stiffening elements, e.g.advertisements or offerings. It may also be possible to use a bookletthat is stiff enough to function as a stiffening element. The bookletmay have 2 or more leaves.

The outer cover may be made of a flexible plastic film, nonwoven or apaper material. The plastic film may be made of common available filmmaterial such as thermoplastic films or films laminated of differentlayers of material. All the layers may be made of film but it would bepossible to include also a thin metal foil or a paper in the laminate.The film may e.g. be made of polyethylene.

The end side panel of a package having stiffening elements shouldpreferably bulge from the side edges with a distance D (see test methodbelow) that is at most 6 mm, preferably at the most 3 mm and mostpreferably at the most 1 mm at, as measured with the herein describedtest method.

The stiffening elements of the package may be positioned loose in thepackage without being joined to the articles or the flexible outercover. However the stiffening elements may also be fastened to eitherthe flexible outer cover, e.g.to the end side panels or to the firstand/or the last article of the stack.

The stack of flexible articles can be positioned so that the firstarticle in the stack will be adjacent and inside one of the stiffeningelements and the last article in the stack will be adjacent and insidethe opposing stiffening element. The stack of flexible article may alsobe substantially flat along the first lateral side 20, the secondlateral side 21, the front side 22 and the back. Furthermore the stackof flexible article may be compressed in the direction of the stacklength, from one the first article of the stack towards the last articleof the stack.

The flexible articles in the packages are preferably an absorbent suchas incontinence protection, diaper and/or a feminine pad or pantyliners.

Method for Obtaining a Package.

The stack of flexible articles described in connection to FIG. 4 ispacked in a flexible outer cover. Two stiffening elements are alsopacked into the flexible outer cover against the end side panels of itsinterior surface. The methods for obtaining the packages can be used forall of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5-9. A stack of flexiblearticles are provided together with two stiffening elements and flexibleouter cover. The stack and the stiffening elements are inserted into theouter cover either simultaneously or consecutively, i.e. either thestack or the stiffening elements may be inserted first into the outercover and then the either of part of the stiffening elements or thestack may be entered into the outer cover. The stiffening elements arepositioned against each of the interior surface of the end side panelsof the outer cover. Thus the stiffening elements may positioned adjacenteach of the first article and the last article of the stack.

The stack may optionally be compressed before it is inserted into theouter cover. One further option in this case is that the stiffeningelements are positioned against the first and the last article of thestack before it is compressed.

In all of the embodiments described in FIGS. 2, 3, 5-9 the stiffeningelements may be inserted into the outer cover before the stack offlexible articles is inserted. The stiffening elements may thenoptionally be joined each of the end side panels of the outer cover. Thejoining may be done by any common mean e.g. by adhesive joining orultrasonic welding.

FIG. 11 a and b shows in a very schematic way one way to pack the stackof flexible articles and the stiffening elements. Two stiffeningelements 10 have been positioned against each of the first and the lastarticles 6′ of a stack 5 of flexible articles. Two compression means,here in the form of plates 19 have been positioned against the outsideof the stiffening elements. The compression means applies a compressionforce F against the stiffening elements 10 in the direction of the stacklength, from the first article of the stack towards the last article ofthe stack. The compressed pack is fed into an open outer cover 2 andreleased. Neither the means for feeding the stack into the outer covernor the means for keeping the outer cover open are shown, but are commonknowledge in the art.

Test Method

Measurement of Distance D

Distance D is a value that shows how much a package containing astiffening element bulges. The method is described with the aid of FIGS.10 a, 10 b and 10 c. In these pictures a bulging package is shown tomake it easier to describe the method. To better show the test method astiffening element that is not stiff enough has been chosen so that thepackage bulges more than a package according to the disclosure shouldhave done.

A package 1 with a stiffening element 10 is laid flat on a table withthe front side panel 4 of the outer cover lying down on the table top14. Find the part of the end side panel 3 of the outer cover that bulgesthe most, this part can usually be found at half of height H_(s) of theend side panel. Push a vertical ruler 15 until it comes in contact withan end side panel 3 of the outer cover 2 where the package bulges most.If the end side panel 3 of the outer cover 2 has a seam that isprotruding push gently until the seam lies flat against the outer coverand the ruler 15 is flush against the part of the material that isadjacent of the seam, alternatively a part of the seam that coincideswith the measurement site can be cut or shaved away without destroyingthe seam. With a finger find the back edge 17 of the stiffening element.With the help of e.g. a horizontal ruler 16 measure the distance D fromthe back edge of the stiffening panel and the vertical ruler 17. Theangles α and β shall be 90°.

Repeat the measurement at the other end side panel.

Then turn the package so that the back panel of the outer cover lies onthe table top and repeat the measurements. In this case it is thedistance D between the front edge 18 and the vertical ruler 17 thatshall be measured.

It is sufficient that one of the measured distances D falls with therange mentioned in the claim for the package to be within the claim.

1. A package with a stack of flexible articles, the package comprising:a flexible outer cover, having a first lateral panel and a secondlateral panel opposing the first lateral panel, the first and the secondlateral panels being connected via a continuous wall, the continuouswall being divided into four side panels, a first end side panel and asecond end side panel opposing the first end side panel, and a frontside panel and a back side panel opposing the front side panel, saidflexible outer cover enclosing the stack of flexible articles, the stackcomprising two or more flexible articles, the stack having a firstlateral side and a second lateral side opposing the first lateral side,a front side and a back opposing the front side, and a first end sidebeing a first article of the stack and a second end side being a lastarticle of the stack, the second end side opposing the first end side,wherein the package further comprises: two stiffening elements, wherebyone stiffening element is positioned against the interior surface of thefirst end side panel of the flexible outer cover and one stiffeningelement is positioned against the second end side panel of the flexibleouter cover.
 2. The package according to claim 1, wherein the stiffeningelements are rectangular.
 3. The package according to claim 1, wherein awidth of each of the stiffening elements is 95-100% of the a width ofthe end side panels of the outer cover.
 4. The package according toclaim 1, wherein a height of each of the stiffening elements is 95-100%of a height of the end side panels of the outer cover.
 5. The packageaccording to claim 1, wherein a height of each of the stiffeningelements is 70-95% of a height of each of the end side panels of theouter cover, and that wherein each stiffening element extends along theend side panel from the first or second lateral panel to a firstdistance from the other of the second or first lateral panels.
 6. Thepackage according to claim 1, wherein a height of each of the stiffeningelements is 70-90% of a height of each of the end side panels of theouter cover, and wherein each stiffening element extends along the endside panel from a first distance from the first or second lateral panelto a second distance from the other of the second or first lateralpanels.
 7. The package according to claim 1, wherein each stiffeningelement has rounded corners and/or edges.
 8. The package according toclaim 1, wherein the stiffening elements are stiffer than the flexibleouter cover and the flexible articles.
 9. The package according to claim1, wherein the stiffening elements are made of wood, corrugated board,plastic sheet, and/or cardboard.
 10. The package according to claim 1,wherein the stiffening elements are made in the form of a frame.
 11. Thepackage according to claim 1, wherein there are only two stiffeningelements.
 12. The package according to claim 1, wherein the end sidepanels bulges from the side edges of the end side panel with a distancethat is at most 6 mm
 13. The package according to claim 1, wherein theouter cover is made of plastic film, nonwoven or paper.
 14. The packageaccording to claim 1, wherein the stack of flexible articles ispositioned so that the first article in the stack will be adjacent oneof the stiffening elements and the last article in the stack will beadjacent the opposing stiffening element.
 15. The package according toclaim 14, wherein the stiffening elements are positioned between the endside panel of the flexible outer cover and the first or the last articleof the stack.
 16. The package according to claim 1, wherein thestiffening elements only cover the end side panels (3)-or parts of theends side panels of the flexible outer cover.
 17. The package accordingwherein the stack of flexible articles is compressed in the direction ofthe stack length, from the first article of the stack towards the lastarticle of the stack.
 18. The package according to claim 1, wherein thestack of flexible articles is substantially flat along the first lateralside, the second lateral side, the front side and the back.
 19. Thepackage according to claim 12, wherein one of the stiffening elements isjoined to one of the end side panels of the outer cover and the otherstiffening element is joined to the opposing end side panel of the outercover.
 20. The package according to claim 1, wherein the flexiblearticle is an absorbent article.
 21. A method for obtaining a packagewith a stack of flexible articles comprising: a. providing a flexibleouter cover, having a first lateral panel and an second lateral panelopposing the first lateral panel, the first and the second lateralpanels being connected via a continuous wall, the continuous wall beingdivided into four side panels, a first end side panel and a second endside panel opposing the first end side panel, and a front side panel anda back side panel opposing the front side panel, b. providing a stack offlexible articles, the stack of articles comprising two or morearticles, the stack of flexible articles having a first lateral side anda second lateral side opposing the first lateral side, a front side anda back opposing the front side, and a first end side being a firstarticle of the stack and a second end side being a last article of thestack, the second end side opposing the first end side, c. inserting thestack into the outer cover, and d. inserting two stiffening elementsbefore, during or after step c into the outer cover and positioning onestiffening element against the interior surface of the first end sidepanel of the flexible outer cover and positioning one stiffening elementagainst the second end side panel of the outer cover.
 22. The method forobtaining a package according to claim 21 comprisinq compressing thestack of articles in the direction of the stack length before and/orduring the insertion into the outer cover.
 23. The method for obtaininga package according to claim 21, comprising positioning one of thestiffening elements adjacent the first article of the stack of articlesand positioning the opposing stiffening element adjacent the lastarticle of the stack.
 24. The method for obtaining a package accordingto claim 22, comprising positioning the stiffening elements adjacent thefirst and last articles of the stack prior to compressing of the stackof articles.
 25. The method for obtaining a package according to claim22, comprising positioning the stiffening elements in the outer coverprior to the insertion of the stack of articles.
 26. The method forobtaining a package according to claim 25, comprising joining one of thestiffening elements to one of the end side panels of the outer cover andjoining the other stiffening element to the opposing end side panel ofthe outer cover.
 27. The method for obtaining a package according toclaim 22, wherein the flexible article is an absorbent article.